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Cover of Genuine Origami

Genuine Origami

43 Mathematically-Based Models, from Simple to Complex

Jun Maekawa

158 pages

A meditative, intellectually rigorous journey into the geometric soul of paper folding.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels less like consuming a text and more like entering a state of deep, focused meditation. The experience is steady and methodical, guiding you through the elegant intersection where rigorous mathematical theory meets delicate artistry. The mood is quiet and intensely focused, demanding your full attention as you translate abstract geometric principles into tangible, three-dimensional forms. Its prose is clear and analytical, stripping away fluff to reveal the pure logic behind each crease and fold. It is a deeply satisfying journey that builds from simple foundations to breathtaking complexity, rewarding patience with moments of sudden, tactile clarity. This is a perfect companion for puzzle solvers, math enthusiasts, and patient crafters who find beauty in structure and joy in the meticulous work of their own hands.

Mood
  • focused
  • meditative
  • calm
  • intellectually stimulating
Tone
  • instructive
  • analytical
  • precise
  • encouraging
Pace
steady
Themes
intersection of art and science · geometric beauty · mastery through practice · elegance of mathematics
The writing
Clear, methodical, and mathematically precise, prioritizing instructional clarity and structural logic over flourish.
The arc
Moves from curious apprehension to focused flow, culminating in the deep satisfaction of creating complex beauty from a single sheet.
Who it's for
Crafters, math enthusiasts, and puzzle solvers who appreciate the underlying logic of art and enjoy hands-on, meticulous projects.

About the book

Like his counterpart in the U.S., prominent origami artist and scientist Robert J. Lang, Jun Maekawa approaches origami from the perspective of mathematical and geometric principles. In Genuine Origami, Maekawa takes readers, step-by-step, through the fundamentals of his method, beginning with the basics and guiding them through simple figures (a mouse, an elephant, Santa Claus) all the way up to such highly sophisticated models as his signature creations, the devil and the peacock.

The 43 different models are grouped into five sections, including one chapter on the ABCs, three which present projects in order of increasing difficulty (Simple, Intermediate and Complex), and one called Varieties of Origami, which reveals how to use different kinds of papers and techniques. In addition to the folding instructions and diagrams, Maekawa explains the mathematical theory behind each project.

An intriguing blend of art and science, Genuine Origami will allow newcomers to discover the pleasures of folding at the same time that it enables beginners and experts alike to learn clever, surprising and elegant sequences to produce exceptional results.

I have written this book with an ambitious aim.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 157), index, and illustrations (some color). Distributed in United States by Kodansha America through Oxford University Press.

Description from Open Library.

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